Zenbook U500 Announced: 15.6" HD IPS, GT650M, Quad-Core i7...

Seems like the pricing is out

Double SSD 128 + 128 GB Configuration is currently 1999.99

And thats the only one ive seen in a store

Asus Windows 8 Home Premium Windows 8 Professional Notebooks / Laptops | Buy, Compare & Review | Adorama

Sigh...

 

I found this...

ASUS U500VZ-CN032H 15.6" Laptop - Silver at cheap prices | Pcworld

 

ULV processor, DVD and SSD @5400 rpm?

Sent from HTC HD2 with Tapatalk

 

yet the pictures don't depict a DVD slot...perhaps it's a bundled external dvd drive

 

With three total errors, they probably just messed up the specs on the site. Same happened here on one of the Swedish resellers, i told them via email about the errors and they corrected them.

My god I need a review of this unit and clarification of different models and specs - and i need it NOW!

 

PCWorld is saying:
Order Now. Availability: 3/11/2012 (Nov. 3rd)
I don't remember seeing any specific date besides 10/26 being listed anywhere, so maybe this is a good sign that it will indeed be released next week?

 

Just confirming that the U500VZ is NOT touch(asus confirmed this to me, and they also sent me a list of specs that can be expected in full), and the pc-world one is bugged atm :/ can't apply coupon codes to it and in some places it shows not avaliable for home delivery on some areas of the site but on the product page it shows available not to mention the misleading information, i escalated the issue with them over the phone and by email. maybe we could see more accurate information by tomorrow??

 

Could you share the list of specs with us?

 

So the U500VZ is not touch. What about the U500VZA listed on Asus' website? Is this the touch screen model?

 

Can't mention a spec list and then not share...

 

Can if being sadistic.

 

i think Asus got him beat on the sadism front.

 

No clue I was only told about the u500z, but even then it wasn't down the the model number detail I wanted. Most of the stuff I was given is stuff we already know but more hard specs down to power consumption of the components. I'm not really sure if I can share this info- let me run it by asus rep who gave it to me.

 

Good news from Dixons (PC World/Currys) in the UK. The specs on the web are wrong, it has i7-3612QM and subwoofer and external drive are included.

 

that matches the info asus gave me, however where did you confirm from? i've rang PC World twice and emailed they still haven't given me the correct details.

 

Can you please, please have your Asus rep confirm the released date ? That would be oh-so appreciated... (if you can)

 

i can try, but i think it will be released before i even get back a response . many sites point towards the first week of nov.

 

So, from various sources, this seems to be what we have:

UX51Vz-DH71 (or U500VZ-CN032H per Currys/PCWorld)

• $1,999 Price
• Intel Core i7-3612QM 2.1GHz Processor with Turbo Boost Technology up to 3.1GHz
• 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Memory
• 128GB SSD + 128GB SSD (Solid State Drive)
• 15.6-inch FHD LED-Backlit TFT LCD Display (1920 x 1080)
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M Graphics with 2GB GDDR5
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN
• Built-in Speaker powered by Bang & Olufsen ICEPower
• Illuminated Chiclet Keyboard
• Connections: 3 x USB 3.0, Headphone-out & Audio-in Combo Jack, RJ-45, HDMI, mini VGA
• Approximate Dimensions (WxHxD): 15.0 x 10.1 x 0.20 ~ 0.80 inches
• Approximate Unit Weight: 4.7 pounds

Possible:

• DisplayPort (CostCentral) (XoticPCl)

Sources:
ExcaliberPC
JR
GenTechPC
CostCentral

UX51Vz-XH71

• $2,499 Price
• Intel Core i7-3612QM 2.1GHz Processor with Turbo Boost Technology up to 3.1GHz
• 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Memory
• 256GB SSD + 256GB SSD (Solid State Drive)
• 15.6-inch FHD LED-Backlit TFT LCD Display (1920 x 1080)
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M Graphics with 2GB GDDR5
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN
• Built-in Speaker powered by Bang & Olufsen ICEPower
• Illuminated Chiclet Keyboard
• Connections: 3 x USB 3.0, Headphone-out & Audio-in Combo Jack, RJ-45, HDMI, mini VGA
• Approximate Dimensions (WxHxD): 15.0 x 10.1 x 0.20 ~ 0.80 inches
• Approximate Unit Weight: 4.7 pounds

Possible:

• Mini DisplayPort (XoticPCl)

Sources:
NewEgg
ExcaliberPC
XoticPC

Most of the sites seem to corroborate those same specs. They say that they come straight from manufacturer (who knows if any copy each other).


I am feeling good about the prospects of Mini Displayport. Found it listed on a couple of websites, and check out these pics from ExcaliberPC. The images match well with expectations from elsewhere. Full number pad on keyboard. I then see...

Left: Power, RJ-45, HDMI, 2x USB 3.0
Right: Headphone, Card Reader, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort (I think), Subwoofer

TigerDirect points to it being a VGA, but from the higher-res pic from ExcaliberPC it sure looks more like a Mini DisplayPort than Mini VGA. Anybody else care to give their opinion based on the images?

 

It seems the only difference between the DH71 and the XH71 is the capacity of the SSDs. Is that worth $500? I need more capacity than the DH71, but could I buy the DH71 and fit it myself for cheaper I wonder?

In any case, now they have teased us with a touchscreen version it seems harder to commit to either of these. Curse Asus and their mysterious ways.

 

Its not Mini DisplayPort its Mini VGA
Interface
-1x LAN RJ-45 jack
-1x mini VGA
-1x 3in-1 card reader
-1X Headphone out/Mic in
-1 x HDMI
-USB3.0 x3 (1 of the left side USB 3.0 port support USB charger+)
-External Sub-woofer connector

 

I would love for this to have a mini-displayport, but look at ux31a prime which has a mini vga port: http://images.pcworld.com/images/article/2012/08/1202403_sl-11395555.jpg

Looks like ASUS uses their own mini vga connector or something...

 

It is absolutely surely mini VGA as per Asus Zenbook site AND support manual

 

Bleh, that hope didn't last long. I had looked up a number of pictures of each and it looked a lot more like mini displayport. But I guess if they have their own that makes sense. You would think the standard cables wouldn't fit based on how it looks, but I guess it does. If this monitor can't run a monitor at 2560x1440 I'll probably have to drop out. So lame, I thought this was going to be THE ONE.

 

And I am suddenly interrested in the touch-version having barely any information,nor pictures/photos or any idea why I would need it Hopefully Win8 would (incl.app store) proove that it was a wise decision. Is there any photo of the u500 touch version out there?

 

Few pages ago (page #112) 2 pictures of what seems to me touch version (glass screen)

 

However, I must admit that looking at the images, and checking with google, it really looks like a mini display port...Do I only see what I want to see?

 

How difficult it is for a company to provide precise specs, config options, price release a week to two weeks before actual product launch? Who did Asus hire to be the head marketing guy? Does he just sit in his office eat Chinese donuts and zip Oolong tea every day in Asus hq in Taiwan? This is so pathetic. Plus they expect potential buys to shell out a cool two grand for the laptop yet it does not come with even a mini display port? How lame.

 

yep. it's a mini-vga after all.

the mini vga logo is the same as ux31's.

such weak sauce, because you can't hook up 2 monitors and use the laptop screen at the same time. You can only have a combo of 2 screens active at once.

 

My question is how much longer we will have to wait if we want to buy the touch version. Also, what its model number is and whether the specifications of the screen are otherwise the same as the non-touch (FHD, IPS). I'd prefer matte, but if touch is an option I might as well go for it in case I fancy doing any development for touch devices.

 

This is a little off topic, but I saw the the Acer Aspire s7 (13 inch) at the microsoft store. Its an absolute beauty, and the display is amazingly gorgeous. Its $1299 for i5, 128 SSD, 1080 IPS touch, so shouldn't this asus be about $200-300 more. The u500 has dedicated graphics, maybe a bigger hard drive, and thats about it. Is there any reason for it to be a lot more expensive than $1299?

 

ExcaliburPC, XoticPC, and GenTechPC are all spec'ing the GT 650M to be GDDR3.

 

That computer uses an ULV CPU like most ultrabooks, which will be dual core, whereas the U500 uses a more powerful quad core CPU. It also has discrete graphics compared to the S7's Intel 4000. The S7 has a maximum 4GB of RAM I believe, which is not enough for many of us. (8GB isn't really enough either but it's a lot better than 4GB, and the U500 at least has a maximum of 12GB.) The closest comparable model of the S7 is advertised at $1649.99 ( http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/model-datasheet/NX.M3EAA.002). For $1999.99 you get the UX51VZ-DH71 which has more RAM and significantly more powerful CPU and graphics. That price difference doesn't seem outrageous, especially when the spec difference makes the leap to a computer powerful enough replace a desktop.

What does seem a bit outrageous to me is that the step from 2x128GB SSDs to 2x256GB SSDs in the U500/UX51 is $500.

 

Meh the Intel spec sheet for the HD 4000 says it can support three screens if it's HDMI/DP/eDP, I don't get why they went with VGA. Such a stupid choice. VGA should have died with CRTs.

 

Yes, it's useful only for presentations, but in that case a DP-VGA adaptor would do the job perfectly.

 

I have one of those, they're $30. Compared to a $2000 laptop that's nothing.

As a comparison the Dell XPS L521x has a mini display port, but there is no way I'm buying another one of those. I think I'm just going to have to put up with the mini-vga port. It's hard enough to find a laptop that I like, let alone one that's nearly perfect like this. I'm just hoping that the SSDs are some standard type that I can upgrade. Otherwise I'm going to be stuck paying the horribly inflated rate for the 512GB version.

 

Anybody know of a product from DisplayLink that may allow us to turn USB 3.0 into DisplayPort? I have seen a few supporting up to 2040x1152. Maybe the HP 3005pr? This is way out of my realm of knowledge though, so maybe someone else can chime in?

 

Lindy has such a product which features up to 2560x1600

http://www.lindy-usa.com/usb-30-to-displayport-adapter-43171.html

But it's not that cheap... 110€/180$

 

You're right, StarTech also seems to have one. Can't even find user reviews of it online, but StarTech does have good reviews on Amazon for other adapters. $100 from Newegg

While it's not cheap, it would make this laptop's lack of DisplayPort an annoyance rather than a deal killer for me. Paying $100 for something that should have easily been included for free (instead of mini-VGA) is definitely annoying though, especially when you consider that Apple has been including a Mini DisplayPort on its MBPs/MBAs for years.

 

Make sure to remember that the StarTech product is basically a video card that attaches to USB 3.0. Don't expect to be doing any gaming on that.

 

I actually don't game at all, so that's fine with me. Would it be fine for all other uses (photoshop, movies, office work) on a 2560x1600 display?

Do some of the other adapters work differently (in a more optimal way)?

 

What could also be good if they offer a docking option for the UX51. For such a price, absence of a docking station would be strange. And of course one would expect that the docking station itself would have DVI ports, DisplayPorts etc.

Even my Lenovo T410 has a DisplayPort.

 

No, USB doesn't carry video signals so they're hamstrung there. I'm not sure on how well this solution works so I can't answer that one. If for some reason ASUS was smart and included a dual-link HDMI that comes right off the GT 650m then that would work. Otherwise I would recommend looking for a different model. There are a lot of other options that do have displayport, especially if you don't care about GPU performance. Thinkpad x1 carbon perhaps?

 

Bit disappointed by the lack of noise over this, looks like the only credible machine that can give me the portability, power and quality in the retina macbook pro whilst sticking with Windows - but Asus aren't showing it in the windows 8 part of their site and the only UK retailer with it (PcWorld) has a page filled with what must be errors.

Really hope they bring their game together and get this onto the streets asap - and would be good if they didnt charge through the neck for the 256gb - 512gb upgrade (or offered 256gb SSD + 500gb HDD combo), it's not like reasonable 256gb drives are still super-expensive

 

I don't understand why Asus are being so quiet about it either. They could make a real splash with the first Windows 8 PC really to go head to head with the MacBook Pro, but instead they're acting as if they're ashamed of its very existence and trying to distract everyone's attention to their tablets. It could have been a flagship product for Asus, but they don't seem to see it that way. They don't seem to realize the need to inspire confidence in buyers by showing their own confidence in the product. Apple certainly could teach Asus a thing or two about that.

 

there must be some kind of problem with this machine, PC world has putted it as out of stock... :,(

 

I choose to believe that they just haven't shipped stock out yet. The last thing I want is another L521x.

 

Its Genuinely out of stock. they got a delivery on the 24th and have sold out, they have the next delivery on the 1st of Nov and it will be in stores on the 6th.

-I called them up really annoyed that the site was bugged and i couldn't order using a legit coupon code.

 

They had geniune stock but with dodgy descriptions? (ULV not Quad / SSD which was 5400rpm / description of a all-in-one touchscreen pc) - how did they have the real thing but not correct the false specs on their site? Hoping someone else offers this soon, a bit ridiculous that so little stock or information is available for this while they're going crazy with that silly Taichi stuff..

 

I've made 3 complaints so far of exactly what you wrote there... and yes same here i just want someone else to sell it because tbh £1500 is a big markup from the £1200 its selling for in US/Europe.

 

exactly. the adapter is relatively cheap, and most people probably won't need vga anyway.


Oh well, it looks like it will take another few years for vga port to be phased out.